Vermilion Hills Foot Bridge Replacement Coming Soon

Posted: 8/22/2017 4:38 PM

It took a few rounds of bidding to ensure that projects stayed within budget, but the Falls Supervisors proved that persistence pays off as it advanced plans to replace the closed Vermilion Hills pedestrian bridge.

The Supervisors recently approved an intent to award a contract to ABC Construction in the amount of $166,455.68. The contract would be finalized once the contractor meets the standards outlined in Falls Township’s responsible contractor ordinance.

Supervisor Chairman Bob Harvie said the contractor selected from the first round of bidding could not meet the requirements outlined in the ordinance.

“We try to protect the taxpayers’ money by making sure that people we’re hiring meet certain backgrounds and criteria,” he said, adding that work must be carried out in a timely, safe and efficient manner.

The Vermilion Hills footbridge project is one of three covered in large part by Bucks County open space funding and a PECO Green Region Grant. In all, the grants for the Vermilion Hills project; fishing pier; and community garden expansion are expected to total $234,000 of the projected $312,000 cost for all three projects, meaning that the Township would only need to fund 25 percent of the total cost.

Township Engineer James Sullivan said the most recent bid would mean that the township could finish all of the projects while remaining within the budget.

Supervisor Chairman Bob Harvie said the bridge was shut down because of safety reasons.

“It was literally falling apart,” he said. Residents have been eager for its reopening.